Venezuela”s Guaido warns military on blocked aid

The warning comes as international aid has taken centre stage in a test of wills between Guaido and President Nicolas Maduro in which the military is seen as the pivotal player. Juan Guaido, Venezuela’s National Assembly leader and self-proclaimed acting president, is in a test of wills with President Nicolas Maduro. (AFP/Federico PARRA) CARACAS: Opposition leader Juan Guaido, recognised by some 50 countries as Venezuela’s interim president, warned the military on Sunday (Feb 10) that blocking humanitarian aid from entering the country is a “crime against humanity.” The warning comes as international aid has taken centre stage in a test of wills between Guaido and President Nicolas Maduro in which the military is seen as the pivotal player. Medicine and food sent by the United States has been blocked for three days in Cucuta, Colombia, after the Venezuelan military closed a bridge linking the two countries. On the Venezuelan side of the border, dozens of doctors protested Sunday demanding the aid be allowed in – including surgeon Jose Luis Mateus de la Riva, who accused Maduro of sinking Venezuelan medicine back to the “medieval era.” “There are people responsible for this and the regime should know it,” Guaido said after attending on Sunday mass with his wife and 20-month-old baby. “This a crime against humanity, men of the armed forces.” Accusing those blocking aid of being “almost genocidal,” he likewise warned that the military would be held responsible for the deaths of protesters – and reaffirmed his call for a… [Read full story]